NEELESHWAR HERMITAGE

Many of our visitors are curious about our name's origins and significance. The name comes from Renaissance lords' hermitages (with or without resident hermits!) established on their country estates to better communicate with God. Later, the name was used to rural estates where court ritual and formality were abandoned in favour of the simple life by Louis XIV, France's "Sun King" - and other kings. The notion was brought to Russia by Peter the Great, who built a ‘Hermitage' at his country house at Peterhof and used it for exclusive entertainments. Catherine the Great, his successor, added ‘Hermitage' pavilions to the Winter Palace, the Russian Tsars' main palace, so that she could entertain her friends and lovers privately. Because she kept her enormous art collections there, the term evolved to designate to The Hermitage in St. Petersburgh, which has long been the world's greatest museum. We like to think that we are carrying on a wonderful tradition here at Neeleshwar Hermitage. We strive to make all of our visitors feel like kings and to provide the finest possible service in visually attractive, carefree, and civilised circumstances. Come find your inner king or queen!